Scientists are optimistic that samples of the Sun that arrived in Houston on Monday will provide important information on the history and origin of the solar system.

Following an extensive recovery effort since its Sept. 8 impact at a Utah landing site, the first scientific samples from the Genesis space probe arrived at NASA's Johnson Space Center late on Monday, Oct. 4.

Media are invited to view the Genesis sample shipping containers at JSC at 1 p.m. CDT Wednesday, Oct. 6, before they are moved into the specially constructed Genesis Laboratory. Media wishing to attend should contact the JSC newsroom at 281-483-5111.

Personnel involved with the curation of the Genesis samples at JSC are available for interviews today, and video of the Genesis arrival at Ellington Field will air on the NASA Television Video File today. Still imagery of the arrival at Ellington Field and JSC is available on the internet at: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/news/genesis.html The quantity of material recovered from Genesis will be determined by further study at JSC. The samples are the first extraterrestrial matter returned by a U.S. spacecraft since 1972, when the last moon rocks were carried back to Earth by Apollo astronauts. Over the coming days, the samples, numbered and packaged in separate carrying cases, will be moved to the Genesis clean room where they will be preserved and protected. Samples will be distributed to scientists to study over the coming months and years, beginning with members of the Genesis Science Team.

NASA TV is available in the continental U.S. on AMC-6, Transponder 9C, C-Band, at 72 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. In Alaska and Hawaii, NASA TV is available on AMC-7, Transponder 18C, C-Band, at 137 degrees west longitude. Frequency is 4060.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. NASA TV is available on the Internet at: